Workmen's advocate., 1887-03-26


 for laborers. In 1882 the International Workingmen's Association was formed under the direction of Karl Marx, the leading Socialist of modern times. The aims of the International are to organize the working class or proletariat of every country, to abolish nationalities and states, and to substitute a communicate order of society. It's methods are secret and revolutionary. Throughout almost every European country it has spread and added immense numbers to its or ganization. The universities of Italy and Germany are rallying points for the Socialists. Louise Michel has said that "in France Socialism stands in the dock, while in England it sits in the House of Commons. In Russia, where the accp- mulated wrongs of centuries, increased by the present blind and bigoted persist ence in tyranny has robbed the people of all manhood and ambition, Socialism takes on it's most dreaded and repulsive form, nihilism. In America, it is stated on good authority that Socialism has in- creased at greater rate than in Ger many.
 Radical Socialism is defined by Toedt as democratic in politics, communistic in economics and atheist in religion. There are, indeed, social agitators in Germany, of which Toedt himself Is one, ists," and who maintain that Socialism is Christianity more logically carried out. From these the socialstic pulpit in our country derives it's inspiration. It is impossible to deny the strength of the present movement, and foolish to refuse to listen to it's expressions. In pulpit, press, and platform, Socialism finds ad- vocates more or less ardent. Around us on every side are the Socialists, mak- ing new converts every day. We thus stand confronted with positive danger. The way to meet it is just and intelli-
 gent discussion of it's principles by every citizen.
 It is the boast of the Socialist that democracy is tending toward Socialism For example, in England the postal and
 telegraphic systems are managed by the government, in Belgium the railroads
 also, while in America the postal system
 alone is under government control. Ed ucation, libraries and museums, parks and gymnasiums, are in some places pro- vided by municipal corporations for all citizens. These gradual extensions of
 the functions of government have been frequently condemned as socialistic.
 There is undoubtedly strong tendency
 among European democrats toward So-
 cialism, but no hing of the kind is mo-
 ticeable in America or in Switzerland.
 We believe, with De Tocqueville, that
 Democracy is equality in liberty, but
 Socialism is equality in servitude."
 Democracy tends to elevate man, to
 develop the individual character, but it
 also suffers him to do what he wishes, as
 long as it is right and just. Socialism is
 another name for absolute despotism.
 Progress is made slowly. The civili-
 zation of to-day is the outcome of cen
 turies of patient toll. The victory of
 Socialism would mean the destruction
 of the existing system and the substitu-
 tion of some social philosophers dream.
 By what authority do they demand the
 abolition of our government? This is it:
 "We hold these truths to be sell. f.evident.
 that all men are created equal; that they
 are endowed by their Creator with cer-
 tain 1ndltenable rights; that among these
 are life. liberty, and the pursuit of hap
 plness; that, to secure these rights, gov
 ernments are instituted among men.
 deriving their just powers from the con-
 sent of the governed; that, whenever
 any form of government becomes des-
 tructive of these ends, it is the right of
 the people to alter or abolish it." There
 fore If the Socialists can prove that the
 present system is destructive of life.
 liberty and the pursuit of happinecs,' l Io .sr Ae |. person, according to the Declaration of independence, 'ft is their right, it is
 their duty, to throw of such govern ment." The Socialists say that they
 have made out their case. We have no
 time to review the details of the argu ments It is enough to say that their : arguments are sufficiently weighty to
 win for their cause the support of many men.
 l, Their main argument is that every thing tends to the concentration of prop
 erty in the hands of few, and to the consequent dependence of the rest of mankind upon the former. This is the great danger of our times. If property is not more generally infused, no ancient traditions, no vested rights or govern mental authority can prevent the many from rising with the firebrand and the , sword to overthrow and overcome the ' oppression of the few. ! Different remedies have been suR- ? gested to check the growth of capital ism. Cooperation has been tried with } some success Proft-sharing, enlarge 3 ment of the functions of government, a , different arrangement of taxes, arbitra- , tion between employer and employe are suggested. The Socialists take kindly r to none, for in the adoption of any one [ new class is created, with one foot in f the camp of the proletariat and one in ] that of the capitalist. "But," says wise